Michael schwarz



. (No Model.)

M. SCHWARZ.

PIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Sept. 20, 1892.

we nomme Pneus co., ruofoansol, wAaNxN-cvqn, n, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.b

MICHAEL SCHWARZ, OF DRESDEN, GERMANY.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of .Letters Patent No. 482,813, datedSeptember 20, 1892.

Application filed March 30, 1892l Serial No. 427,007. (No model.)Patented in Germany December 28, 1890, No. 58,882; in France February27, 1891, No. 211,750; in England March 12, 1891.110. 4,478; inAustria-Hungary April 29, 1891, No. 698

and No. 15,159, and in Belgium June 17,1891,No. 95,315.

To all whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that l, MICHAEL SCHWARZ, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria, residing at Dresden, in the German Empire, have inventedcertain new and useful Life-Saving Apparatus to be Used in Oase of Fire,(for which 1 have obtained patents in Germany, No. 58,882, datedDecember 28, 1890; in Austria-Hungary, No. 698 and No. 15,159, datedApril 29, 1891; in Belgium, No. 95,315, dated June 17, 1891; in France,No. 211,750, dated February 27,1891, and in Great Britain, No. 4,478,dated March 12, 1891,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a rope, line, chain, or cord fitted with asliding brake and other apparatus, together forming a handy means ofescape from iire; and in order that my said invention may beparticularly described and ascertained, reference is hereby made to theaccompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts.

Figure 1 is an elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is another elevation atright angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 1; andFig. 4is an elevation, partly in section, at right angles to Fig. 3.

a is a rope, line, chain, or cord formed of any suitable material, andhereinafter called a ccropen b b is a double hook consisting of an openhook b and a snap-hook b. This hook is secured to the rope asA shown.

c is a Weight retained on the free end of the rope a by a knot, as shownin Fig.' 3, or by other suitable means.

d is a coiled spring resting on the weight c for reducing the momentumof a person coming down the rope on nearing the ground.

The brake apparatus consists of a cylinder e, surrounding a portion ofthe rope and preferably constructed externally of wood and internallywith a metal liner. The upper end of the cylinder or liner is fittedwith a case f of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4. One side j" is made toopen for examination of the rollers and other purposes. The cover f ishinged at f2 andsecured by the Winged nut and bolt f3.

g are three rollers fitted to the back plate of the case f and roundwhich the rope is placed, as shown in Fig. 3. These rollers may beotherwise arranged. A hand-brake 7c (the block of which is grooved to itthe rope) is litted in the cylinder e, pivoted at i, and fitted with alever-handle h. By means of this brake additional friction may beapplied to the rope a when necessary and the descent checked or entirelyarrested.

m is a bracket attached to the cylinder e by means of a ring n. orepresents a portion of a belt which is secured to the body of a personusing the apparatus.

When using the apparatus, the hook b or ZJ is fastened to a bar,balcony, or other suitable fixed part or fitting of the building fromwhich the escape is to be made. The Weighted end of the rope is loweredand-the belt o is secured round the waist, or preferably round the bodyjust under the arms of the person to be lowered, and he can then lowerhimself at a safe speed to the ground by grasping the handle h, and bypressing the brake-block 7c more or less hard against the rope a he canobtain the brake-power which, in addition to that of the three rollersg, Will serve to secure this result. When nearing the ground, the springCZ secures a safe landing and neutral izes any shock which might resultfrom reach ing the ground at too great a speed.

1n fitting the apparatus to windows or other openings in buildings thelength of the rope is made to suit the height of the Window above theground, so that the weight c may be just clear of the ground whenhanging down.

When out of use, the cord is Wound up in any suitable manner, and theapparatus is kept in a convenient position, ready for use.

I claim@ In a fireescape of the class described, the combination of thecylinder e, the case f, secured to the upper end of said cylinder andhaving a hinged cover f', a winged nut and bolt for securing said coverin its closed position, a series of rollers g, pivoted in said ease, ahand-brake lo, pivoted at one end to the cylinder and provided with abrake-surface and a lever-handle h, an opening in the side of cylindere, through which opening the brakesurface of the brake is adapted toproject, a bracket m, adapted to be secured to the lower IOO end of thecylinder by a securing-ring n, a belt cylinder, all arranged forco-operation, as de- Io o, secured to said bracket, a rope passingscribed.

through the cylinder and around the rollers In testimony thereof I havehereunto set and out through an opening in the upper end my hand inpresence of two witnesses.

of the case f, a snap-hook secured to the upper end of the rope, aweight c, secured to MICHAEL SCHWARZ. the lower portion of therope, anda coiled `Witnesses.: spring encircling said rope and located be-HERNANDO DE SOTO,

tween the Weight and the lower end of the .PAUL HERZ.

